The New York City Council voted 40 to 7 to ban horse-drawn carriages from Central Park, with the measure set to take effect in June 2028. The decision marks the end of a 160-year-old industry, prompting fierce opposition from drivers who vowed to fight the ban in court. Mayor Zohran Mamdani is expected to sign the bill into law.
Animal rights activists celebrated the vote as a victory for humane tourism, while carriage drivers argue the measure will cause total economic devastation. The ban follows the death of a tourist in June, which intensified calls for reform. Between now and the effective date, the city must develop a transition plan to humanely retire the horses and determine the fate of valuable carriage medallions.
Drivers like Onur Altintas, who owns four horses and spent over $300,000 on medallions, fear losing their livelihoods and futures. The Animal Legal Defense Fund supports the change, calling it a safer approach for people and horses. Opponents, including Nicole Gelinas of the Manhattan Institute, denounce the ban as socialist overreach and an unjust seizure of private property.
Despite the controversy, tourists like Izzy Ramos from Wisconsin expressed excitement to experience the carriages before they vanish.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing